Bali Weather & Seasons

Bali Climate Facts

Bali is located about 8 degrees south of the equator. Therefore you can expect a tropical, warm and humid climate all year round – with two main distinctive seasons: Dry Season and Rainy Season.

Bali’s central mountains (volcanoes) include several peaks, with mount Agung reaching over 3,000 meters in elevation. Up there, the temperatures are considerably cooler, and there is much more rainfall than in the coastal areas.

Best Time

When is the best time to visit Bali?

Overview

May, June & September best time – April & October still good

Room prices for these months 30-50% off high season rates
Still dry and less humid
Not too crowded
Sea conditions excellent
Airfares still reasonable
Sales in Shops

Best time to visit Bali depends mainly on the weather also high and low season in terms of “school holiday schedules”, which does affect the overall price for accommodation and even the number of people you share the island with.

High season is during July and August, during Easter Holidays, and Christmas / New Year (December till 1st week of January). It is the busiest time in Bali.

However, for many reasons, the best time to come to Bali is April, May, June and September, just before and just after high season. It’s still dry season, it’s slightly less humid, and room prices and villa rentals can be 30-50% cheaper than during high season. Many shops offer sales and promotions, restaurants are less crowded in those mid-season months, and in general, Bali is a bit more relaxed. October is not too bad either, still much less rain than November (usually, check the rainfall chart).

Those months are also the best time for water sport activities such as scuba diving, surfing, snorkelling, etc. Waters are clear, crowd not too bad etc. Major activities and attractions such as Bali Zoo, Bali Bird Park, Marine & Safari Park, Waterbom, White Water Rafting, Monkey Forest, etc. have less visitors which make the experience more enjoyable.

If you wish to explore the island and visit the main sightseeing spots, temples and go for a day trip and tour, then those months are also perfect. And not to forget, in general, the traffic and hustle bustle on the roads in the main tourist areas is more bearable. Some tourists love it when it’s busy, and could not imagine a holiday otherwise, but if you like it quieter, then Kuta and Legian, Seminyak during high season might not be the best choice.

Bali Climate Facts

Climate Chart Bali

Have a look at the climate table, which should give you a good idea about temperatures during the day and the expected rainfall during dry season and rainy season. Check our area map to see if your holiday area is located at the coast, or in highlands near the volcanos etc

Rainfall in Bali

The Seasons in Bali

Dry Season

April to October

Less rain with cool breezes

Bali receives the most visitors during July & August. Temperatures are pretty steady all year round but during the dry season, the evenings can be pleasantly fresh. During Bali’s dry season, beaches are generally clean, and Bali shows its pretty side. One can still expect occasional rainfall though; sometimes even the locals are surprised how dry a week during the rainy season can be and the other way around. Have a look at the chart below and check out temperatures, no. of days with rainfall etc. in the capital Denpasar (south Bali near Kuta, Seminyak, etc).

If you have a choice, then yes, better to avoid the classical rainy months to minimise the risk of bad weather. But, you can have amazing sunny days all year round for sure.

Rainy Season

November to March

Rainy & generally hotter

During rainy season Bali becomes quieter. The sea is rougher, the beaches and the sea in the south (Kuta, Legian, Seminyak) can be quite dirty due to debris washed onto the shore during January and February. It’s not happening always and got better over the last few years, but it can happen and depends on wind conditions and currents. During rainy season winds are stronger at the coast, the water currents pick up, and it can rain in buckets. Although, usually the rain stops after a few hours and the sun shines again. A lot of the times it rains during the night and days are o.k. Very rarely, you have a few days when it rains continuously. Lately, weather is changing, and a November can be as dry as an August – it got much more unpredictable.

General Weather Conditions each Month
Months	max. Temp.		Rain days	Rainfall	Season
Bali weather January	26°C	78°F	27	34.5 cm	Rainy Season
Bali weather February	26°C	78°F	22	27.4 cm	Rainy Season
Bali weather March	26.5°C	79°F	20	23.4 cm	Changing Season
Bali weather April	27°C	80°F	9	8.8 cm	Dry season
Bali weather May	28°C	82°F	8	9.3 cm	Dry season
Bali weather June	26.5°C	79°F	6	5.3 cm	Dry season
Bali weather July	26.5°C	79°F	4	5.5 cm	Dry season
Bali weather August	26.5°C	79°F	4	2.5 cm	Dry season
Bali weather September	26.5°C	79°F	8	4.7 cm	Dry season
Bali weather October	27°C	80°F	12	6.3 cm	Changing Season
Bali weather November	27°C	80°F	17	17.9 cm	Rainy Season
Bali weather December	26.5°C	79°F	22	27.6 cm	Rainy Season

The Cooler Highlands and Mountains of Bali

Central Bali and the Mountains
Bali’s central mountain area is typically cooler and also rainier than the lower coastal areas. Especially at night temperatures can drop significantly in the highlands near the volcanoes. Gunung Agung is, for example, 3031m high! Also, the region around Ubud is a slightly cooler and expects more rain than the southern areas of Bali (Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Denpasar, Sanur, Bukit Peninsula, Pecatu), which makes it rather pleasant.

General Climate – all year round
Bali’s is located very near to the equator; therefore, its warm, tropical climate makes it a huge draw for tourists. Average year-round temperature stands at around 26-27°C with a humidity level of about 85-90%. Water temperatures are always pleasant. The two seasons are not clear cut and fully predictable. Christmas and New Year is high / peak season on Bali and tourists come from all over the world to enjoy the beaches, the surfing, diving, the restaurants, the club, the spas and everything else Bali has to offer – although it is technically “rainy season”. One can do everything during the wet season but climb the volcanoes and trekking in the highlands. Of course, it is more pleasant when the sun shines and also more fun while exploring the island.
Although the average numbers are based on many decades of data recording, today it seems less and less possible to count on those stats and give a solid prediction. Novembers had been rather dry and hot lately, while those are the months we expect the most rainfall. So in a way, it’s a bit of luck too, and you can expect either way.